Safety apparatus for supporting ladders



Jan. 17, 1928.

T. DEPPE SAFETY gfPPARATUs FOR/SUPPORTING LADDERS Filed April 20, 1927 Er-n Li Patented Jan. 17, 1928.

UNITED-STATES 1,656,817 ENJT c erics.

rnnononnnrrn," 0F LEIPZIG, GERMANY,

SAFETY APPARATUS Foss ls-rename LADDERS.

Application filed April 20, 1927, Serial No.185g278, and in Germany May 12, 1926.

This invention relates to an improved safety apparatus for supporting ladders and preventing the same slipping on the ground, while means are provided thereon for placing the ladder in any inclined position.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the improved safety apparatus: Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are respectively a plan view, a right-hand side view, and a left-hand side view, of the same in its vertical position, while Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 2 of the apparatus with the main part of the same in inclined position with the lower end of a ladder post therein; Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a plan view and a side view of a detail belonging to the apparatus.

A rectangular base plate a, of which the edges may be recessed at certain places for a reduction of its weight, is on its underside provided with anti-slipping members 7), preferably of rubber or the like.

Said base plate carriers near its front edge V a transverse abutment-wall 0 against which the ladder post P (Fig. l) is placed with its lower corner bearing upon transverse ribs 03 provided on the upper surface of the base plate behind said transverse abutment-wall 0.

At the left-hand edge of the base plate a fixed upright bracket 6 is arranged and provided with an elongated vertical slot 7', in which a horizontal headed bolt 9 is guided by means of its square part a, said bolt carrying at its outer end a fixed round disc 7L and at its inner end a rectangular disc 2' and one lateral wall of a rectangular caselike frame is, all being centrally mounted thereon. Said frame it embraces the lower end of the ladder post P (Fig. 4:) and is so turnable on the bolt 9 that the ladder post, and thus the whole ladder, can be adjusted to different inclined positions. Said turning movement of the framciu is limited by two lateral fixed head-pins mthereon engaging in curved slots Z provided in the disc 2' and having the centre of their radii. located in the axis of the bolt 9. Instead of two such slots, of course, one only would be sulficient for the purpose in question.

To ensure a correct position of the frame It for its being turned with the lower end of the ladder post P inserted therein in vertical position, the bolt 9 must then be located exactly in the middle of the elongated slot 7. To this end, the rectangular disc 2' has a wedgelike lower extension 2' and bears therewith upon two blade springs n mounted on the front and rear ends of the lower part of the bracket 6. Thereby, the frame is is allowed to yield somewhat for placing the ladder in inclined position.

The inner lateral face of the frame 70 adjacent to the disc 2' is toothed, while a movable clamping jaw 0 is suspended between the short side walls of the frame opposite to said lateral toothed face and provided with an upper knee-piece 79 having an outer depending member with an elongated slot 9 therein, through which the shaft of a pressure-screw r is freely passed so as to act from outside upon the middle of said jaw. By these means, the ladder post is firmly gripped within said frame is while the jaw 0 is allowed to tilt somewhat at its lower part in case that the ladder post has a tapered end.

For placing the ladder on very slippery ground, it is desirable to place below the base plate a another base plate 8 fitted with pegs a and to lock the base plate a thereon by means of locking bolts 16 (Figs. 5 and 6).

If desired, the apparatus can easily be so modified that the ladder can be placed in inclined positions not only in one direction but in both directions from its vertical position.

The operation of the apparatus is very simple:

The ladder is inserted with the lower end of its post in the frame 71: in vertical position (Figs. 1 to 3), the ladder post being then means of the screw 7 and the frame is yieldingly turned until the ladder and thus its post P (Fig. 4) assumes the desired inclined position, in which it bears against the abutment-wall 0 and upon the ribbed bottom (Z of the base plate rt.

Vhat I claim, is

A safety apparatus for supporting ladders, comprising a base plate, anti-slipping members on the underside of the latter, an abutment-wall near the front edgc of said base plate, a ribbed upper surface on said base plate behind said abutment-wall, a fixed upright bracket on one side of said base plate behind said abutment-wall having an elongated vertical slot therein, a horizontal headed bolt having a square part guided in said slot, a fixed round disc on the outer end of said bolt, a rectangular disc centrally mounted on the inner end of clamped fast in the frame by i said bolt, blade springs against which bears to itilt somewhat at its lower end, and a th l r nd f id dis ctan ular pressure-screw acting upon said clamping 10 frame turnably mounted on the inner end jaw for clamping the lower end of a ladder of said bolt and having a slot-and-pin conpost in Said frame.

nection with said disc limiting its turning In testimony whereof I have hereunto set movement, a toothed lateral inner face on my hand. i

said frame, a movable clamping jaw in said frame opposite said toothed face adapted i THEODOR DEPPE. 

